It was done to facilitate the Catholic Church's service to the rapidly expanding Italian population in that area of the city.

[3] The new parish was initially served by a small chapel dedicated to St. Ann located on East 112th Street.

The first pastor, Father Cardi, a Pallotine, immediately determined to build a suitable church for the parish.

The five-story brick parochial school with a slag and tile roof is located at 310-318 East 110th Street.

It was built in 1924 to the designs by architect Edward F. Fanning of 134 East 44th Street,[1] and opened in 1926 under the administration of the Filippini Sisters.